Bombshell claims behind Cate Sayers’ lawsuit against her estranged husband have been revealed on Thursday.Ms Sayers is suing former Carlton president Luke Sayers for defamation, more than a year on from an online scandal involving the posting of a lewd photograph to his X account.
In January, it was reported that she had accused her husband of blaming her for the upload of an explicit photo to Luke’s account on January 8 last year, as well as making harmful claims about her mental health.
On Thursday, Ms Sayers’ 11-page Victorian Supreme Court writ was released, which claims Luke had published “knowingly false information about Cate’s personal history, health and general welfare for the improper purpose of presenting her as unstable, untrustworthy, erratic, mentally disturbed and/or as a live risk to her own safety and the health and safety of her own family”.
She also claims she has suffered “significant distress, hurt and embarrassment entitling her to an award of equitable compensation”.
A spokesperson for Mr Sayers issued a statement in January confirming the former Blues boss would defend allegations made against him by Ms Sayers.
“Mr Sayers rejects the claims being made against him,” the spokesperson said.
He has yet to file a defence to the defamation claim, however he has notified the court that he will be represented by Arnold Bloch Leibler law firm.
The case is yet to be allocated a hearing date.
The defamation writ was filed in mid-January and claims Mr Sayers implied she was responsible for posting the lewd image in a statutory declaration he submitted to the AFL integrity unit.
That sworn statement was relied upon by the Sayers camp and the AFL to clear the then Carlton supremo of wrongdoing.
Ms Sayers is seeking a copy of the Statutory Declaration as part of her claim.
According to the AFL’s official investigation verdict, the high-profile businessman’s mobile phone had been “compromised” by an alleged undisclosed third party.
Ms Sayers identified herself as that alleged third party in her Supreme Court writ, but says the claim is false. She was not contacted as part of the AFL’s probe.
Two of Luke Sayers’ daughters publicly declared their support for their father amid the ongoing scandal that has fractured their family.
In a statement in January, Bronte and Claudia Sayers said they regretted the dispute continuing to unfold in public but would stand by their father if required.
“This dispute sits within a long and complicated family history, with very different accounts of past events. Based on what we have lived and experienced, we stand behind our father and his position,” they said via the Herald Sun.
“If needed, we will give evidence to support (Dad) … but we still hope it won’t come to that.
“We have never spoken publicly about the matters affecting our family but given recent events, we wish to make our position clear.
“We are very sorry that this continues to play out publicly. We would have much preferred for all of this to be resolved privately, without going to court.”
Originally published as Bombshell claims uncovered in Supreme Court behind lewd pic scandal